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SOLITARY SABRED
By Fire & Brimstone

No Remorse (2020)
Rating: 8.5/10

Every now and then it’s important for us metalheads to delve into the sword n’ sorcery realm to make us feel like teenagers all over again, and what better way to do this than by the soundtrack of Solitary Sabred’s third album.

By Fire & Brimstone is a crafty and tight composition awash with traditional metal values and brimming with tales of mythology and metal madness, and all wrapped in a glorious slice of cover art depicting a bewitching fortune teller.

If straight up metal is your thing then why not scrap all plans this year and just experience and appreciate the majestic storytelling prowess of these Cypriot headbangers who offer galloping magic, chugging cauldrons of molten lava and devilish melodies. Imagine a mix between New Wave Of British Heavy Metal stylings mixed with, say, Sanctuary, Helstar, Iron Maiden and Manowar.

Everything on board is heavy, atmospheric and infectious; the vocals of Petros “Asgardlord” Leptos soar into Warrel Dane (Sanctuary / Nevermore) realms and bring a real icy grandeur as his tongue spins great tales of fantasy. ‘Disillusions’ is a prime example of his stunning range from bellow to high pitched squeal, but couple this with the twin guitar attack of Jimmy “Spartacus” Demetriou and Nikolas “Sprits” Moutafis and you’re already succumbing to the dark powers of this mesmerising record that effortlessly drifts between progressive power chords and then more simplified power metal magma.

Opener ‘Servants Of The Elder Gods’ strikes immediately with Gothic aplomb and then flows as black, icy water, driving at the heart, causing one to chest pound in time to the hammering percussion of Fotis Mountouris, while the bass of George “Stainlesz” brings down great shards of ice from the catacomb roofs. The deadly mix of devious power-cum-thrash is riveting as the clan broods with menace before unleashing speed.

‘Assassins Of Carthage’ again reminds one of Sanctuary; the chugging velocity and power metal fluctuations are glorious. And just feast upon the varying guises of ‘The Scarlet Citadel (Chronicles Of The Barbarian King Pt. I)’, which hints at old Sabbat as it raises an ancient crown of aged thrash leanings. It’s here where Petros Leptos really shines; his choppy style alternating between a snappy rasp and that gorgeous high warble.

Although not an overly complicated opus, there’s just so much to revel in as ‘Fyres Of Koth (Chronicles Of The Barbarian King Pt. II)’ begins its snappy drift to the clash of percussion and bloody swords, while ‘Invoking The Master’ is a straight up thrashing, combative howler that booms with sumptuousness as the drums rip with opulence and the guitars speed.

You can pluck any of the nine tracks on offer out and you’ll be bathed in glorious Technicolor tales of terror and affluence, before the rich stirrings of ‘Psionic Transmogrification’ are processed as some conniving and busy stormer that borders again on thrash illustriousness.

Several listens in and I’m experiencing something akin to thumbing through some ancient tapestry of intricate tales, whereby each turn of the page is represented by a stunning chord shift and flowing pattern of splendour.

Solitary Sabred play a gracile style of glinting metal, the sort of shimmering and deep extravagance one may have already experienced with acts such as Cauldron Born. Sure, there’s nothing new about such meanderings, but when executed correctly such as this, metal very much embedded in the distant past can make for such a hypnotic and rewarding experience. Raise those shields to the glory of Solitary Sabred.

Neil Arnold

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